Mullaprotsesse

Mullaprotsesse (soil processes) are the physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms that shape soils. They operate across spatial scales from micro to landscape and over time from seasonal to geological, linking weathering of minerals, organic matter turnover, nutrient cycling, water movement, and the development of soil structure. The study of mullaprotsesse is central to soil science and pedology.

Physical processes include the mechanical breakdown of minerals, aggregation and the development of pore networks, infiltration and drainage of water, and erosion. Chemical processes involve mineral dissolution and precipitation, cation exchange, acid-base reactions, weathering of silicate minerals to clays, and redox reactions in hydraulically active or waterlogged soils. Biological processes cover the decomposition of organic residues by microbes, humus formation, soil respiration, root growth, and bioturbation by soil fauna, all of which mix and distribute material within the soil.

Pedogenic or horizon-forming processes drive the development of soil profiles. Translocation moves clay, organic matter, and oxides within the profile; eluviation and illuviation involve removal and deposition of material in upper and lower horizons. Other processes include podzolization, gleization, calcification, and salinization, which contribute to characteristic soil types.

Importance and applications: Mullaprotsesse determine soil fertility, carbon storage, nutrient availability, water retention, and resilience to erosion and climate change. They underpin soil classification, land evaluation, agriculture, forestry, and ecosystem management. Study methods include soil profiling, laboratory analyses of texture and chemistry, and advanced techniques such as micromorphology and isotopic tracing.